Last Chance to Take Action to Save Shahla Jahed

We have written before about the case of Shahla Jahed. She has been convicted of murder in a high-profile case and sentenced to death by hanging, despite the fact that she has clearly and publicly said in court that she confessed to the murder only under rape and torture. Her “trial” under the “judicial” system of the Islamic Republic has been a sad farce of tragic proportions. And because the Islamic Republic could not stone Sakineh to death, they seek to impose their barbarity on the back of a different woman: Shahla Jahed is to be executed tomorrow.

The International Committee against Execution has issued a statement today, describing what may be Shahla Jahed’s final communication with the outside world. The words she has spoken reveal that she has received papers stating that she will be executed tomorrow. But there is a silent plea contained within those words. This is our last chance, in the next hours remaining of this day, November 30, 2010 to try to halt this barbarity – a heinous act that will result in the cold-blooded murder of one woman, and in a chilling effect on millions of other people in Iran – especially women.

Below is a short letter that you can send to foreign ministers and state departments worldwide. Addresses are provided. Below the sample letter is the statement issued by the International Committee against Execution – the final call to save the life of Shahla Jahed. There are but a few hours left for us to exert enough international pressure to halt this execution. However small the chance may be, it is our responsibility to ensure that the world, and the Islamic Republic, knows that we will not stay silent in the face of this criminal regime’s atrocities.

SAMPLE LETTER TO FOREIGN MINISTER/SECRETARY OF STATE

To the Foreign Minister/Secretary of State:

I am outraged at the Islamic Republic’s intention to execute Shahla Jahed, a women who has been “convicted” of murder in a high-profile case and sentenced to death by hanging, despite the fact that she has clearly and publicly said in court that she confessed to the murder only under rape and torture. Her “trial” under the “judicial” system of the Islamic Republic has been a sad farce of tragic proportions. And because the Islamic Republic could not stone Sakineh Ashtiani to death, they seek to impose their barbarity on the back of a different woman: Shahla Jahed is to be executed tomorrow.

I urge you to do your utmost to halt this execution – and all executions in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The world is well-aware that the criminal regime of the Islamic Republic is committing crime after crime against people in Iran, executing people 10 and 20 at a time. I demand that this government oppose the human rights outrage that is ongoing in Iran, starting immediately by calling for a halt to the execution of Shahla Jahed.

Sincerely,
[your name]

When writing to your Foreign Minister or Secretary of State, please send a copy of your mail to the following:inquiries@un.org (UN – main)urgent-action@ohchr.org (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights)bia.judi@yahoo.com (Secretary General, High Council for Human Rights
Mohammad Javad Larijani)info@dadiran.ir (Head of the Judiciary
Sadeqh Larijani)

A few minutes ago, Shahla Jahed called me from Evin prison on the phone, and while thanking for all of the efforts that have been made to save her, said that she has received the execution sentence [they have given her the paper], and she is supposed to be hanged tomorrow morning. I call upon all of the people of the world, all political parties and organizations, and all of the governments, that in these moments of crisis, with all of their power, and in whatever way, try to halt this act of murder. There is little hope left to save Shahla, but it is still possible and it is our duty to prevent this from happening. Shahla did not call only to say goodbye. This, her last message, in fact is a call to us to do our utmost to save her life.

Discussion

10 thoughts on “Last Chance to Take Action to Save Shahla Jahed”

I noticed a mistake in the information of the ministers of foreign affairs. The minister of foreign affairs from the Netherlands is no longer Maxime Verhagen(he is a minister but has moved on to agriculture/economy and is vice president) but the person you should be adressing is minister Uri Rosenthal. He is in charge of foreign affairs now!

Following is a list of the Foreign Ministries above to easily copy and paste into your email:kab.bz@diplobel.fed.be;info@mvp.gov.ba;iprd@mfa.government.bg;imprensa@itamaraty.gov.br;ministar@mvpei.hr;minforeign1@mfa.gov.cy;podatelna@mzv.cz;udenrigsministeren@um.dk;vminfo@vm.ee;umi@formin.fi;bernard.kouchner@diplomatie.gouv.fr;inform@mfa.gov.ge;guido.westerwelle@auswaertiges-amt.de;michael.spindelegger@bmeia.gv.at;gpapandreou@parliament.gr;titkarsag.konz@kum.hu;external@utn.stjr.is;minister@dfa.ie;gabinetto@cert.esteri.it;segreteria.frattini@esteri.it;mfa.cha@mfa.gov.lv;tonio.borg@gov.mt;secdep@mfa.md;post@mfa.no;DNZPC.Sekretariat@msz.gov.pl;ministro@mne.gov.pt;senec@mne.gov.pt;pm@pm.gov.pt;msp@mfa.rs;miguel.moratinos@maec.es;registrator@foreign.ministry.se;info@eda.admin.ch;